Product Description

Dean of the cathedral in an 1870s English town, Adam Ayscough is respected and misunderstood. A dogged crusader against corruption, he's also acutely shy. When his watch breaks, he forms an unlikely friendship with watchmaker Isaac Peabody, who doesn't think he has anything in common with God. Will their relationship open the door to grace? 420 pages, softcover from Hendrickson.

Publisher's Description

A compelling saga of an unlikely friendship threaded together by redemption and grace

The setting is a remote mid-nineteenth-century town in England and its grand cathedral. The cathedral Dean, Adam Ayscough, holds a deep love for his parishioners and townspeople, but he is held captive by an irrational shyness and intimidating manner. The Dean and Isaac Peabody, an obscure watchmaker who does not think he or God have anything in common, strike up an unlikely friendship. This leads to an unusual spiritual awakening that touches the entire community.

A richly imaginative and inspiring story with appealing and unique characters, this novel is a favorite of Goudge's fans.

Author Bio

Elizabeth Goudge was a British novelist (1900-1984) born into the home of an Anglican priest and theologian. She wrote children's books as well as novels--her Green Dolphin Street was made into an Academy-Award winning film. In style and themes she parallels English writers such as the creator of the Miss Read series as well mirroring the spiritual depth found in George MacDonald's Victorian novels. She won the Carnegie Award in 1947 for The Little White Horse, which is J. K. Rowling's favorite children's book.

Elizabeth Goudge wrote some of the most beautiful prose I've ever read. Her stories are old-fashioned, but full of incredible word pictures and characters I would love to meet. I'm so glad that someone is republishing these wonderful books!

I hope more people will read this book. I would encourage readers to persevere through the first couple of chapters, which are very descriptive of the times and places. The remainder of the book draws you in with a great variety of characters, great and small. Some become the most unlikely of friends! I cannot find the words to tell how richly rewarding I found this book to be.